Reports
From Democratic Model to Digital Constraint? Digital Repression and the Transformation of Civic Space in Senegal
- Middle East & Africa Team
- 30 May 2026
- Civic Space, Digital Repression, Internet Shutdowns, Senegal
This report examines the transformation of Senegal’s civic space from a long-standing democratic model in West Africa into a landscape increasingly shaped by digital repression, political control, and restrictions on public participation.
The report focuses on the political crisis between 2021 and 2024, especially the protests surrounding opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, the postponement of the 2024 presidential election, and the state’s response through police violence, arrests, media restrictions, internet shutdowns, and social media blocks.
It further analyses Senegal’s legal and regulatory framework, including constitutional protections, the 2017 Press Code, cybercrime-related provisions, criminalisation of online expression, and the emerging National Media Regulation Council. The report also considers the role of foreign disinformation campaigns and concludes by assessing whether the Faye-Sonko administration can reverse the normalisation of digital control and restore stronger protections for freedom of expression, assembly, association, and media independence.
The report focuses on the political crisis between 2021 and 2024, especially the protests surrounding opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, the postponement of the 2024 presidential election, and the state’s response through police violence, arrests, media restrictions, internet shutdowns, and social media blocks.
It further analyses Senegal’s legal and regulatory framework, including constitutional protections, the 2017 Press Code, cybercrime-related provisions, criminalisation of online expression, and the emerging National Media Regulation Council. The report also considers the role of foreign disinformation campaigns and concludes by assessing whether the Faye-Sonko administration can reverse the normalisation of digital control and restore stronger protections for freedom of expression, assembly, association, and media independence.
✨ AI summary
This report analyses how Senegal’s reputation as a democratic exception in West Africa has been challenged by growing digital repression and civic space restrictions. It examines the period from 2021 to 2024, when political protests linked to Ousmane Sonko, youth mobilisation, police violence, arrests, party dissolution, and the postponement of the 2024 presidential election intensified democratic strain. The report highlights the government’s use of internet shutdowns, mobile data restrictions, social media blocks, TikTok suspension, media outlet closures, and prosecutions for online speech under public order and national security justifications. It also reviews the 2017 Press Code, cybercrime laws, Penal Code provisions on false news and public security, and the creation of the National Media Regulation Council. The report concludes that Senegal’s digital restrictions have weakened freedom of expression, media pluralism, civic mobilisation, and information integrity, while exposing the country to foreign disinformation campaigns. It calls for stronger legal safeguards, judicial oversight, media independence, and protection of digital rights.
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